Friday, October 16, 2026
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For readers looking for what’s still working in the world

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Friday, October 16

Good news, worth watching.

Stories of hope, kindness, resilience and progress — each one carrying a video, and each read through the science of wellbeing.

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ConnectionUpworthy

Gen X and Boomer women who refuse to retire alone are turning to the ‘Golden Girls’ retirement plan

In a refreshing twist on traditional retirement living, Gen X and Boomer women are finding inspiration in the beloved sitcom 'The Golden Girls', opting for communal living arrangements over conventional senior facilities. This innovative approach is being explored in retreats at the Modern Elder Academy (MEA) in New Mexico, where women gather to discuss the logistics and emotional considerations of cohabitating as they age. Facilitated by Elizabeth White, these retreats delve into practical questions about shared living, encouraging participants to weigh the benefits of companionship against potential challenges like illness or compatibility issues.

  • Curiosity
  • Hope
  • Courage
  • Perspective
YouTube
ResilienceUpworthy

Psychologists say the easy ‘Third-Person’ method helps you get over tough emotions quickly

In a fascinating exploration of emotional regulation, psychologists have pinpointed a simple yet effective strategy: third-person self-talk. This approach involves mentally stepping back from one's immediate emotional experience by referring to oneself in the third person. This small shift in perspective can lead to significant reductions in emotional brain activity, as evidenced by studies where participants showed decreased emotional responses when they adopted this technique. By creating a psychological distance, individuals can analyze their feelings with greater clarity and calm, a method that promises to enhance emotional resilience and decision-making.

  • Perspective
  • Curiosity
  • Hope
Instagram
ResilienceUpworthy

Social worker role-plays “the enmeshed parent,” and people are recognizing their own childhoods

In an eye-opening video, social worker Patrick Teahan role-plays the complex dynamics of an 'enmeshed parent' to illuminate a common yet often misunderstood family dynamic. This portrayal resonated with nearly a million viewers, many of whom recognized their own childhood experiences in his depiction. Enmeshment, characterized by blurred boundaries and excessive involvement in each other's lives, can prevent children from developing a separate identity, leading to issues like low self-worth and anxiety.

  • Courage
  • Perspective
  • Hope
YouTube
KindnessGood News Network

Teen Triathlete Raises More Than $30,000 to Donate Bikes and Riding Lessons to Low-Income Families

In a heartening display of youthful initiative and community spirit, 17-year-old Jonathan Thai from Alpharetta, Georgia, has transformed a simple idea into a significant community movement. Through his Pedal Forward Foundation, Thai has raised over $30,000, secured 400 bicycles, and distributed 500 helmets to low-income families. His efforts don't stop at equipment; he has also organized over a dozen community bike clinics, teaching children essential riding skills that extend far beyond recreation. Thai's work is deeply inspired by his parents' experiences in post-war Vietnam, where transportation can be a critical lifeline.

  • Gratitude
  • Hope
  • Perseverance
YouTube
ResilienceUpworthy

Monk-inspired 20-second reset found to be a key to well-being. But it must be done daily.

In an era where mindfulness is often equated with lengthy meditation sessions, psychologist Eli Susman's encounter with a monk revealed a paradigm-shifting insight: the power of simplicity. The monk's suggestion to focus on 'three breaths' rather than hours of meditation inspired Susman to explore the efficacy of micropractices. This led to the development of a 20-second self-compassion exercise that has shown significant benefits in reducing stress and enhancing emotional well-being. By placing a hand on one's heart and abdomen, and asking how to befriend oneself in the moment, individuals can foster self-compassion and calmness.

  • Curiosity
  • Hope
  • Perseverance
TikTok
KindnessUpworthy

Pamela Anderson started her ‘next chapter’ as a gardener, growing fresh produce for local food banks

Pamela Anderson, once known for her iconic role on Baywatch, is now cultivating a different kind of legacy. In her grand 15,000-square-foot garden in British Columbia, Anderson grows a variety of produce that she donates to local food banks, soup kitchens, and First Nations communities. Her gardening project, detailed on her show 'Pamela’s Garden of Eden,' is more than just a personal hobby; it is a vibrant act of community service and personal renewal. Anderson describes her garden as a metaphor for rebuilding her life, finding solace and purpose in the act of nurturing plants.

  • Gratitude
  • Hope
  • Kindness
YouTube
ConnectionUpworthy

A neighbor called the cops on kids playing basketball. Ten years later, one of them is driving a car that Shaq bought him.

What begins as a noise complaint about teenagers playing basketball in the street evolves into an inspiring tale of community, mentorship, and unexpected generosity. Officer Bobby White's decision to join rather than disperse the game, captured on a dashcam, quickly went viral, resonating deeply in a time of heightened tensions between police and Black communities. This simple act of engagement caught the attention of Shaquille O'Neal, who not only joined the subsequent game but also invested in the youths' futures, culminating in a spontaneous gift of new cars years later.

  • Kindness
  • Hope
  • Perseverance
Instagram
ConnectionUpworthy

A car accident took his eyesight in 2023. His yellow lab guide dog, Keanu, gave it back to him.

In a remarkable story of resilience and companionship, Jim McDermott's life took an unexpected turn when a devastating car accident in 2023 left him blind. While grappling with the sudden change, McDermott found a newfound sense of freedom and independence through Keanu, a guide dog provided by Guiding Eyes for the Blind. The yellow lab not only assists McDermott in navigating the physical world but has become an integral part of his family, waking him with affectionate nudges and accompanying him in his ministry work, thus enriching his sense of purpose.

  • Hope
  • Love
  • Perseverance
TikTok
GrowthUpworthy

100 years ago, a rogue Washington geologist faced ridicule for his ‘catastrophic’ theory. He was right.

J. Harlen Bretz, a geologist once ridiculed for his radical theory of a cataclysmic flood shaping the Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington, was ultimately vindicated. Bretz's meticulous fieldwork led him to hypothesize that the dramatic landscape was carved by a massive flood, a claim dismissed by the scientific community of the time, which favored gradual geological change. It wasn't until decades later, with the discovery of Glacial Lake Missoula as the flood's source, that Bretz's theory gained acceptance, fundamentally altering geological science.

  • Perseverance
  • Curiosity
  • Courage
YouTube
ResilienceUpworthy

In 1864, a photographer captured haunting photos of the last living soldiers from the Revolutionary War.

In a time when history was slipping through the fingers of time, the Moore brothers embarked on a remarkable journey to capture the visages of the last surviving soldiers of the American Revolutionary War. These photographs, taken in 1864, stand as poignant reminders of a generation that laid the groundwork for a nation. By capturing these images, the Moores not only preserved the faces of these veterans but also their stories, which were further immortalized in Rev. Elias Brewster Hillard's book. This endeavor, marked by a sense of urgency and reverence, ensured that the personal histories of these figures were not lost to the sands of time.

  • Curiosity
  • Perseverance
  • Gratitude
Instagram
HopeUpworthy

Ontario teen says he’ll live in ‘modular home’ invention for a year to prove it can end homelessness

Ribal Zebian, an enterprising engineering student from Ontario, is taking on the challenge of homelessness with an innovative approach. Known for his previous invention of a wooden electric car, Zebian has now turned his focus to creating modular homes made from fiberglass and PET foam. These homes are designed to be quickly assembled and affordable, providing a temporary solution to the housing crisis. Zebian is so committed to his idea that he is living in one of these homes for a year, aiming to experience and refine the design through all seasons.

  • Hope
  • Curiosity
  • Courage
YouTube
KindnessGood News Network

Elderly Theater Worker Surprised by $146,000 for Her Retirement Crowdfunded by Young Moviegoer

In Maryville, Tennessee, a heartwarming story unfolded when a young moviegoer, Brooklyn Green, noticed an elderly theater worker, Mary, diligently collecting trash at her local AMC. Moved by Mary's tireless work ethic, Brooklyn decided to film a short TikTok video and set up a GoFundMe page with the modest aim of covering a month's rent for Mary. To Brooklyn's amazement, the video went viral, and within a day, over $100,000 was raised, eventually totaling an impressive $146,000, allowing Mary the financial freedom to consider retirement after 45 years of dedicated service.

  • Kindness
  • Gratitude
  • Hope
Instagram
ConnectionUpworthy

His grandmother made 6,000 sketches around the world. He’s tracking down every spot to repaint the same view.

Max Romey's quest to revisit and repaint the locations of his grandmother's 6,000 watercolor sketches is as much a journey through time as it is through geography. His grandmother, Lucretia Leonard Romey, traveled the world, capturing moments in places like Norway, France, and Antarctica. Max's mission is not only to honor her legacy but also to witness the changes in these landscapes over decades. His project highlights the passage of time and the shifting nature of our world, as seen through the eyes of two generations of artists.

  • Gratitude
  • Perseverance
  • Curiosity
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From the Research Desk

The science behind the good

The finding1 of 5

Kursk residents' life quality is moderately impacted by healthcare system satisfaction.

What’s Workingpositivetech.org
Problemy sotsial'noi gigieny, zdravookhraneniia i istorii meditsiny

[THE SUBJECTIVE ESTIMATES OF QUALITY OF LIFE OF URBAN POPULATION OF PROVINCIAL REGION THROUGH THE PRISM OF SATISFACTION OF HEALTH CARE SYSTEM].

  • Meaning
  • Accomplishment

This study explores how the quality of healthcare systems influences the subjective quality of life for residents in the city of Kursk, Russia. The researchers conducted a survey to understand how people's perceptions of their well-being and life quality are linked to their satisfaction with healthcare services. The findings indicate that inadequacies in healthcare infrastructure and personnel negatively impact residents' quality of life.

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The finding1 of 4

Scientists at Peking University found that more family support than incivility boosts adolescent life satisfaction and reduces anxiety and depression.

What’s Workingpositivetech.org
Journal of research on adolescence : the official journal of the Society for Research on Adolescence

The interplay of family support and family incivility on adolescent mental health.

  • Relationships
  • Meaning

This study explores how family dynamics, specifically support and incivility, affect adolescent mental health. By analyzing data from nearly a thousand Chinese high school students, researchers found that the balance between positive and negative family interactions plays a crucial role in shaping mental health outcomes. Adolescents who experienced more family support than incivility reported higher life satisfaction and a stronger sense of meaning in life. Conversely, when family incivility was high, the benefits of family support on meaning in life diminished.

Read the science →
The finding1 of 4

Scientists at Istanbul University found that higher self-efficacy in veterinary students is linked to healthier lifestyles and greater life satisfaction.

What’s Workingpositivetech.org
Veterinary medicine and science

Self-Efficacy, Healthy and Sustainable Lifestyle, and Life Satisfaction: An Integrated Model Accounting for Self-Reported Recreational Physical Activity Participation Status in Veterinary Students.

  • Accomplishment
  • Engagement

This study explores how self-efficacy, or the belief in one's ability to succeed, relates to healthy and sustainable lifestyle choices and overall life satisfaction among veterinary students. It found that students with higher self-efficacy tend to lead healthier lifestyles and report greater life satisfaction. The research also indicates that lifestyle partially mediates the relationship between self-efficacy and life satisfaction, suggesting that how students live can influence the benefits of self-efficacy.

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Read by what you need today

Hope

Stories that widen the sense of what's possible.

Resilience

People and communities bending without breaking.

Gratitude

Noticing and naming the good that's already here.

Connection

The quiet, durable work of belonging to one another.

Courage

Acting well in the presence of fear or cost.

Kindness

Everyday generosity that compounds.

Creativity

New answers to old problems.

Growth

Learning, healing, and becoming more whole.